Grow Mediums Store bought soil - history/experience (Ontario, Canada)

[Idiot-sativant]

This post is for my Canadian brothers and sisters who don't want to mix soil or are tired of looking for pre-made American stuff everyone talks about like Foxfarms. I don't know what the right answer is for soil but I do trust real experience over well meaning theory. If you see something you want to discuss or have your own working experience to add, please do!

1. Soil - Loblaws/Wallmart/CT ($2 dirt/wood chips)
   
   The soil became compacted very fast, huge ruts from watering, hard to water/easy to over-water, and after harvest the root ball was only fist size in a 1 gallon felt pot! (it may have taken 5 months to get there too, ouch!)
   
   Potential contributing factors: Heat issue, over-watering(seedling/veg).
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Promix Organic veg and herb ($8 home depot) (Updated Picture)
   
   My preferred soil at the moment. The soil is light, spongy, absorbs water well, plant grew faster with thicker stock, and after the first male plant was discovered I de-potted and the root was the entire 1 gallon container! A carpet of fine white roots holding the soil together like glue and world apart from my first soil experience
   
   
   
   
   Much Better this time!
   
   
3. Promix/Perlite Combo
   
   Per 15.5L(5G) Smart Pot:
   
   5L - Promix Herb
   5L - Promix HP
   4.5L - Perlite
   Clay Pebbles on top

Good luck to everyone, I hope you find what works for you

 

[Canabliss]

I was just about to start a thread on this! Check out Homehardware's website they have really stepped up their game. They literally have everything you need in the soil department right now other then bulk perlite, which I'm sure is on the way. I mix my own soil and got the compost, coco coir, peat and vermiculite all from them for a great price. I got a bag of perlite but their small bags at 5$ for 5L is a bit much so I got a big 3.3 cu/ft bag from my local hydro store for $40. They also have pro-mix mycorrihzae and greenworld vpw420 that looks decent. If they don't have it in stock they usually can have it in by Wednesday if you order Monday or the following Wednesday. Got my pots & trays from them as well.

Edit: Did the math and it works out to about $10.50 per 50L of the soil I make which is only marginally cheaper then the VPW420 soil, which if my tingling weedy sense is correct may have been mixed up for the newly emerging Canadian market.

 

[Idiot-sativant]

Thanks @Canabliss! and here I thought Home Hardware lost to Home Depot years ago. Found a local one I'll be checking out soon.

 

[shumway]

Root Farm - Hydro Potting Mix Available @ Canadian tire - Home Hardware - Home Depot - Lowes and probably a lot more stores if you look.

Don't let the "hydro" in the title fool you as its a full on organic mix

"sphagnum peat moss, coco coir, aged softwood bark, perlite, worm castings, bat guano, feather meal, bone meal, blood meal, sulfate of potash, kelp meal, and volcanic ash."